Quote for the Day
“Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
Today's Prayer
This week focus on your worship of God. Get to know Him just as He wants to know you… personally. Ask Him to give you insight into what you should do with the life He has given you. Pray for those on the road that they will know God personally.
Daniel 3:8-23
Daniel 3:8-23 (NIV)8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the —Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Message
We now see the results of King Nebuchadnezzar’s focus on himself. He has become furious that Daniel’s three friends have not bowed down to the golden image. A deeper look at this passage reveals that this whole trial of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is really just jealousy from other wise men and leaders. They are jealous of what the three of them and Daniel have received from the king. Their anger and jealousy is really over the Jews (including Daniel and his three friends) who were captives of the nation of .So we have a plot by some leaders to kill off some people they don’t like, who just happen to be on the list of important and well-cared-for by the king. What do we think will win, the king’s ego or a sense of rational understanding of what Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have told AND SHOWN to the king about the one true God? The king’s response was, “…if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.” A furnace that was so hot, the soldiers throwing them in are killed by the intense heat.Nebuchadnezzar still does not know God. He has seen and heard about God. He has acknowledged that God is a god of gods. But, in fact, he has no relationship with God and does not really have any idea of what it means to worship God. Next week we see how a true worshiper of God views life. Do you KNOW God, or just know who He is?